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Friday, June 3, 2016

F&T Friday - Summer Movie Memories

I talked earlier this week about trying to decide on content for my Wednesday and Friday posts. I think that I'll keep Wednesdays for non-review book posts or bloggish business, but I wanted to do something a little different for Fridays.

Dear Readers, may I present F&T (Film and Television) Fridays!

I love stories of any kind. While I blog mostly about books here, I did want to devote a little time to the stories I see, as opposed to the stories I read. So, I'll be doing posts dealing with Film and/or Television on Fridays. Sometimes I'll have reviews, sometimes I'll rant, sometimes--like today--I'll do a list.

I'd love to hear what you all think of this, so comments are more than welcome. Now, however, onto the business at hand!

It's summer...well, it is as good as summer. It's past Memorial Day and Marvel has released its big summer film, so that's good enough for me. And there is just something about Summer movies--they aren't as pretentious as the Oscar bait that comes out later in the year, but there is definitely a higher expectation for them compared to movies that come out earlier. And, let's face it, summer movies are fun.

I was thinking about the movies that mean summer for me--movies that I saw in my youth or young adult hood that just feel like warm weather and fun. There were 5 movies that popped into my mind that will always evoke summer for me. Here they are, in no particular order (mostly!)5. Gladiator (2000)
I remember seeing this movie when I lived in Boston (less than a month before I moved back to Oregon) and being blown away. It was so old-fashioned, and I mean that in the best way possible. It was the kind of spectacle that Hollywood had long since given up. Russell Crowe was just reaching the height of his career and we didn't yet know how weird Joaquin Phoenix really was. This is a movie that requires buttery popcorn during and drinks afterwards.

4. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
True story here. The mainstream movie theaters in my home town refused to show this movie. They thought it would encourage truancy. To be fair, they had a point. But, there was one art house theater in town that showed it--ironically for this movie, the theater was under a parking garage. Anyway, I don't think that theater has done such good business in the last 30 since this movie played there.

3. My Big Fat Greek Wedding(2002)
Back in August of 2002, I went to see...some other movie. I can't even remember what it was. But it was sold out. However, I was there and I wanted to watch something, so I opted for a movie I hadn't heard anything about, despite the fact that the only name I recognized was Joey Fatone. It happened to be the opening day for that movie, a little diddy called My Big Fat Greek Wedding, so I beat all the hype. Which means, at least in my little corner of the world, I started they hype. Seriously. I told everyone I knew they had to see this movie and I went out the next day and saw it again with my mother.

So, how good is this movie? Well, according to CNBC, it is the most profitable movie of all time when adjusted for inflation. Let me put that in perspective. Star Wars is #6. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial is #2. My Big Fat Greek Wedding is #1 (I guess having a $6 million dollar budget helps....)

Oh, and there is an important thing to keep in mind with this movie. Not all Greek Families are Greek. Trust me. Heck, my husband would say the same thing (let's just say that Toula's Aunt Voula comes from my side of the family....)

2. Jurassic Park (1993)
For those of you old enough to remember, this was a big deal when it came out. My friend Tyler and I went to see it at a preview before the official opening, and neither of us had read the book, so all we knew was that it was about dinosaurs. But, it was a Spielberg, so we knew it would be exciting...and we were not disappointed.

But you know what I remember most? The surprising number of kids in the theater. And, when I say "kids" I mean 4- and 5-year olds in their pajamas. Look, I get it. Kids love dinosaurs but really, did you think this would be a flipping episode of Dinosaur Train?

And here is where the "in no particular order" ends, because my #1 movie is my #1 summer movie....1. Dirty Dancing (1987)
Folks, I was a fan of this movie before it was ever released. I danced as a kid and I had a huge 13-year old girl's crush on Patrick Swayze...this movie was made for me. I saw it on opening day, and two days after that, and a week or so after that, and...well, I think I saw it 10 times in the theater (which is impressive when you are 13 and your parents have to drive you across town!). Then it came out on VHS and I bought it--and this was back before anyone "bought" movies--we just rented them. And then I wore out the tape. And then I bought another one..and, well, you know how this story goes.

I saw this movie again in my 20s and was shocked at how cheesy it was. Then I saw it in my 30s and--BAM!--I was a 13 year old girl all over again. (I recently saw the stage production and, um, don't do that.....) This one is, without a doubt, the summeriest summer movie there is for me....and I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that way!

What movies mean summer for you? Is it all action or romance or horror or what?